Over a quarter million gallons of gasoline have spilled in shelby County, Alabama after a major fuel pipeline ruptured this week. National cable news networks have ignored this story because of the ongoing fight against the the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The fuel line that carries refined gasoline from Houston to the East Coast has leaked roughly 6,000 barrels of gasoline since Monday, September 12th. The leak is expected to increase fuel prices across the Southeast, and the governors of both Alabama and Georgia have declared official state emergencies, preparing residents for fuel shortages.

Parts of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina will be the first markets to be impacted by any potential disruption in supply. On Thursday afternoon, fuel operator Colonial Pipeline declared that it has briefed officials in every state where fuel shortages are expected. The health and safety of the roughly 500 first responders at the site of the cleanup is of primary concern.

The gasoline vapors in the pond are not at safe levels for human health so it has not been safe for workers to recover much of the product from the spill. Yet a recent update states that federal, state, and company officials have cleared crews to begin the excavation process.

Colonial Pipeline also raised its estimate of the size of the spill. The company announced last week that the spill leaked around 6,000 barrels of gasoline, which is 252,000 gallons. Now, they are saying that the leak was actually between 6,000 and 8,000 barrels, which is 336,000 gallons. One barrel is 42 gallons.

According to data from the National Transportation Safety Board, the spill is Colonial’s largest since 1996, when 22,800 barrels of gasoline leaked in South Carolina. The pipeline spill comes at a critical time for the industry because of the continued protests against the construction of the North Dakota pipeline. Protestors claim that the Dakota Access Pipeline would pollute water supplies that millions of people and animals depend on for survival.

The pipeline was shut down September 9th, when the leak was confirmed. Temporary plugs have been installed on either side of the leak to minimize impact.

This spill is only one example of the many issues caused by pipelines. Although devastating, hopefully this event will wake people up to the potential dangers of new pipelines being built in our country.

Ariana Marisolis a contributing staff writer for REALfarmacy.com. She is an avid nature enthusiast, gardener, photographer, writer, hiker, dreamer, and lover of all things sustainable, wild, and free. Ariana strives to bring people closer to their true source, Mother Nature. She graduated The Evergreen State College with an undergraduate degree focusing on Sustainable Design and Environmental Science. Follow her adventures on Instagram.